Alberta pharmacist suspended for diverting narcotics, forging prescriptions: hearing tribunal

A pharmacist in Grande Prairie stole from his employer, forged prescriptions, created false transaction records and diverted drugs for family members and a friend, according to a hearing tribunal.

The Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) hearing tribunal ordered a 30-month suspension – until July 2027 – for pharmacist Emery Ostrosky after finding him guilty of unprofessional conduct.

Ostrosky is accused of “manipulating the system” and diverting drugs – including narcotics, amphetamines, and erectile dysfunction pills – for free for a close friend, family members, and himself in the absence of valid prescriptions.

“This demonstrated an overt lack of judgement on the part of Mr. Ostrosky and a complete disregard for the manner in which drugs are recorded and dispensed in Alberta,” the ACP hearing tribunal ruled.

The hearing tribunal determined the pharmacist concealed the diversion of drugs by replacing the proper tablets with other tablets.

Ostrosky also allegedly told the hearing tribunal he had an agreement with a doctor that he could “prescribe at his own discretion.” The tribunal determined that “made no sense” and was “frankly, not credible.”

The tribunal says the pharmacist “accepted responsibility for his conduct during the investigation and did not substantively dispute the allegations.”